Q & A (Questions and Answers)
Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Wednesday March 11, 2009
3.11.09 Q & A
These notes are partial – fuller responses in the audio itself.
Q: Read Exodus 20:4–6 , Are these Generational Curses? I have heard teaching recently, and I am confused by this. I thought that this passage was speaking of unrepentant sin which keeps us from salvation. If not, and these are generational curses that the Lord is telling us about, then do each of us need to go through this process after salvation, of repenting of old behavior that pops up in our walk with the Lord?
A: Two things are raised in this question – generational curses and old behavior that pops up in our walk. Let’s take the 2nd first - yes, you do need to repent of any sin in your life, whether it is a repeat of a familiar sin or a brand new one you just learned! Is the repeat of an old sin the evidence of a generational curse? No. If you love the Lord, any so-called curse is broken. That is what v6 plainly indicates.
I like to think of generational consequences v generational curses. When someone is seeking to break the power of a generational curse, they rebuke demon spirits, as if they were causing the damage. V5 says specifically that God is doing the visiting. And if God is doing something, why would you want to undo it? And if you did want to undo it, as Moses did when God threatened to annihilate Israel, you should pray and seek God’s face. Talk to God, not to the devil.
The teaching of generational curses moves the responsibility of sin from you and seeks to relocate it to the past. What someone in the past did explains why you are doing what you are doing now.
Generational curses, as they are popularly taught today, are not found in the Bible. The only evidence for them is anecdotal – experiences that people have had. I call this ‘anecdotal theology’ v Biblical theology. If it could be shown that Moses, David, Isaiah, Jesus, Paul, etc., taught these things, I would readily embrace them.
Q: I am seeing a lot of bad behavior in myself and my family since we moved into this place where we live. Does this mean that there is a demonic spirit that is in our home? I have a friend that has stayed with us on occasion, and she has said that she has felt that there is a stronghold in this house. Also, there are signs of some violent behavior in this house before we moved in: ex: dented doors, door frames that have signs of a crowbar near the door knob, holes in other doors. I have had the house prayed over, yet we are still experiencing some problems.
A: In the Bible, demons are connected w/ people, not places. TV shows about haunted houses – I can’t speak to this. Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. When it comes to kids acting out, there are many psychological, relational, emotional issues involved. Do all you can to remove the signs of former violence – repair/paint…pray! Do all you can to demonstrate that you value and cherish the children. Cf. Lev. 20:22-26
PREFACE: James says we have allowed sin and the devil to eat away at our spiritual life. We should be in spiritual depression. Even when we humble ourselves we still sin. We all fall short of the glory of God. God is against us, so we should be spiritually depressed.
Q: We will all continue to sin?
A: 1J1:8. The defining factor is the attitude of the heart. We will sin until heaven. But if we sin in the manner that J4:1-4 points to, there is trouble.
Q: When is my sin my sin? If we all fall short we rely on God to lift us up and give us guidance. When does God start helping me with my sin?
A: Conviction of sin by the Spirit is God helping you. 1J1:9 If we confess… Gal. 5:16 Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh…
Q: Every morning I die to my self pick up His cross and follow him. I surrender to Him. Every night I pray for forgiveness and commit to repentance of my sin. I still sin. I have sinned for so long to the point that it is engraved in my soul (is it my soul or my forehead?). I am imperfect. Am I totally responsible for my repentance, or does God intervene for my repentance?
A: Romans 2:4 Conviction of sin is the work of the Spirit. Repentance is the response of your soul to the work of the Spirit. 1J1:9 If WE confess our sins…
Q: When I am depressed and suffering the consequences of my sin where is God's mercy?
A: It is God’s mercy that brings you to the point of depression for your sin. God’s mercy isn’t an instant fix for what ails the human heart. Mercy means that God isn’t treating you as you deserve. “But if I’m suffering the consequence of my sin, I am experiencing justice and not mercy.” Full justice calls for hell. Are you going to hell? No. That’s God’s mercy.
Q: Because of my sin am I not taking responsibility for my own stuff? Am I the problem? Am I falsely blaming someone else? Or God?
A: Maybe. Yes. Don’t know x2
Q: Am I asking wrong? Do I have the wrong motives? Am I not submitting?
A: Don’t know x3.
Q: Why can't I just not sin?
A: Four realities: you live in a fallen world in a fallen body w/ a perfect spirit and a maturing soul. Three of those four realities are less than perfect.
Q: Am I just a drama queen?
A: Probably
Q: Explain first shall be last/last shall be first – Mt. 19:30 - 20:16
A: Day laborers received just as much regardless of when they started. Two ideas: GOD IS SOVEREIGN and not tied to our sense of equating work w/ worth. REMOVAL OF VALUE SYSTEMS based on position and hierarchy and race. Jewish/Gentile application
Q: What is the difference between Calvinism and Arminianism?
A: The nature of man/choice of God/extent of atonement
Q: Is CC Calvinist or Arminian?
A: Most CCs are consistently neither.
Q: Can a Christian lose their salvation?
A: Better, can a Christian repudiate their faith? I think so – Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-31
Download | Duration: 00:49:01
3.11.09 Q & A
These notes are partial – fuller responses in the audio itself.
Q: Read Exodus 20:4–6 , Are these Generational Curses? I have heard teaching recently, and I am confused by this. I thought that this passage was speaking of unrepentant sin which keeps us from salvation. If not, and these are generational curses that the Lord is telling us about, then do each of us need to go through this process after salvation, of repenting of old behavior that pops up in our walk with the Lord?
A: Two things are raised in this question – generational curses and old behavior that pops up in our walk. Let’s take the 2nd first - yes, you do need to repent of any sin in your life, whether it is a repeat of a familiar sin or a brand new one you just learned! Is the repeat of an old sin the evidence of a generational curse? No. If you love the Lord, any so-called curse is broken. That is what v6 plainly indicates.
I like to think of generational consequences v generational curses. When someone is seeking to break the power of a generational curse, they rebuke demon spirits, as if they were causing the damage. V5 says specifically that God is doing the visiting. And if God is doing something, why would you want to undo it? And if you did want to undo it, as Moses did when God threatened to annihilate Israel, you should pray and seek God’s face. Talk to God, not to the devil.
The teaching of generational curses moves the responsibility of sin from you and seeks to relocate it to the past. What someone in the past did explains why you are doing what you are doing now.
Generational curses, as they are popularly taught today, are not found in the Bible. The only evidence for them is anecdotal – experiences that people have had. I call this ‘anecdotal theology’ v Biblical theology. If it could be shown that Moses, David, Isaiah, Jesus, Paul, etc., taught these things, I would readily embrace them.
Q: I am seeing a lot of bad behavior in myself and my family since we moved into this place where we live. Does this mean that there is a demonic spirit that is in our home? I have a friend that has stayed with us on occasion, and she has said that she has felt that there is a stronghold in this house. Also, there are signs of some violent behavior in this house before we moved in: ex: dented doors, door frames that have signs of a crowbar near the door knob, holes in other doors. I have had the house prayed over, yet we are still experiencing some problems.
A: In the Bible, demons are connected w/ people, not places. TV shows about haunted houses – I can’t speak to this. Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. When it comes to kids acting out, there are many psychological, relational, emotional issues involved. Do all you can to remove the signs of former violence – repair/paint…pray! Do all you can to demonstrate that you value and cherish the children. Cf. Lev. 20:22-26
PREFACE: James says we have allowed sin and the devil to eat away at our spiritual life. We should be in spiritual depression. Even when we humble ourselves we still sin. We all fall short of the glory of God. God is against us, so we should be spiritually depressed.
Q: We will all continue to sin?
A: 1J1:8. The defining factor is the attitude of the heart. We will sin until heaven. But if we sin in the manner that J4:1-4 points to, there is trouble.
Q: When is my sin my sin? If we all fall short we rely on God to lift us up and give us guidance. When does God start helping me with my sin?
A: Conviction of sin by the Spirit is God helping you. 1J1:9 If we confess… Gal. 5:16 Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh…
Q: Every morning I die to my self pick up His cross and follow him. I surrender to Him. Every night I pray for forgiveness and commit to repentance of my sin. I still sin. I have sinned for so long to the point that it is engraved in my soul (is it my soul or my forehead?). I am imperfect. Am I totally responsible for my repentance, or does God intervene for my repentance?
A: Romans 2:4 Conviction of sin is the work of the Spirit. Repentance is the response of your soul to the work of the Spirit. 1J1:9 If WE confess our sins…
Q: When I am depressed and suffering the consequences of my sin where is God's mercy?
A: It is God’s mercy that brings you to the point of depression for your sin. God’s mercy isn’t an instant fix for what ails the human heart. Mercy means that God isn’t treating you as you deserve. “But if I’m suffering the consequence of my sin, I am experiencing justice and not mercy.” Full justice calls for hell. Are you going to hell? No. That’s God’s mercy.
Q: Because of my sin am I not taking responsibility for my own stuff? Am I the problem? Am I falsely blaming someone else? Or God?
A: Maybe. Yes. Don’t know x2
Q: Am I asking wrong? Do I have the wrong motives? Am I not submitting?
A: Don’t know x3.
Q: Why can't I just not sin?
A: Four realities: you live in a fallen world in a fallen body w/ a perfect spirit and a maturing soul. Three of those four realities are less than perfect.
Q: Am I just a drama queen?
A: Probably
Q: Explain first shall be last/last shall be first – Mt. 19:30 - 20:16
A: Day laborers received just as much regardless of when they started. Two ideas: GOD IS SOVEREIGN and not tied to our sense of equating work w/ worth. REMOVAL OF VALUE SYSTEMS based on position and hierarchy and race. Jewish/Gentile application
Q: What is the difference between Calvinism and Arminianism?
A: The nature of man/choice of God/extent of atonement
Q: Is CC Calvinist or Arminian?
A: Most CCs are consistently neither.
Q: Can a Christian lose their salvation?
A: Better, can a Christian repudiate their faith? I think so – Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-31
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